A TAXI driver who "posed a threat to public safety" will pay Bournemouth council more than £1,000 after taking the case to court.

Ayoub Farahmand was one of two drivers banned from picking up fares after a behind-closed-doors town hall hearing in December.

It was heard that the two had repeatedly ignored the night-time road closures at Horseshoe Common in a bid to find customers.

As a result, members of the licensing sub-committee decided the pair were not "fit and proper" to hold a Hackney Carriage Drivers' Licence.

The area was redeveloped into a shared space in 2014, and as a result, a taxi rank close to pubs and nightclubs on Old Christchurch Road was shut between midnight and 5am.

The two drivers with revoked licences were told they could appeal against the decision at Bournemouth Magistrates' Court, or reapply for their licence after a year has passed.

However, on Monday, April 11, magistrates upheld the council's decision to bar Mr Farahmand, and he was ordered to pay costs to the council of £1,254.59.

Councillor Andrew Morgan, chair of the licensing board, said: “I am pleased that the courts have supported our decision to revoke this taxi driver’s licence.

"The new road arrangements at Horseshoe Common have been widely publicised and clearly marked so no drivers can claim to be ignorant of them.

"The licensing board has a duty to protect the public, including those pedestrians in the closed zone, who will not be expecting vehicles in the road at that hour, and are therefore at risk.

"We will continue to enforce the restrictions at this location and will not hesitate to pursue drivers who ignore these lawful restrictions and enter the zone, thereby putting the public at risk.”